Top 10 fantasy baseball relievers for the 2023 season

We continue on in our fantasy baseball rankings, this time with relief pitchers. This is the most volatile position every year, but these guys can provide immense value to your team. There are plenty of good options here, with some talented fantasy baseball relievers missing list.

This list is a ranking of the top 10 fantasy baseball relievers you should target for your team.

First, a few relievers who just missed the list:

Camilo Doval is nasty and very young, but unfortunately he just missed the list for two reasons. First, his team isn’t going to give him many save opportunities this year, similar to last year. Saves are similar to wins and losses in that they don’t really matter in real life, but they count in fantasy baseball, so the lack of save opportunities matters. The other reason is his walk issues. He walked 30 batters in 67.2 innings last year, which is a BB/9 of 4.0. He was good in many other aspects in 2022, with 80 strikeouts and a 2.53 ERA, 2.98 FIP, 1.24 WHIP, and 160 ERA+.

Evan Phillips had an insane 2022 season. He pitched in 63 innings and allowed just 33 hits, eight earned runs, 15 walks, and struck out 77 batters. His ERA was 1.14, his FIP was 1.94, his WHIP was 0.76, and his ERA+ was a ridiculous 367. If you’re thinking he’s going to repeat those numbers, maybe stop thinking that, but he can still be a very reliable arm in the Dodger ‘pen. They typically don’t name one closer, but Phillips will be in the mix for saves as well as holds with Daniel Hudson and Brusdar Graterol.

Liam Hendriks is not only a great closer, but also a great person. Unfortunately he was recently diagnosed with cancer and will miss an undetermined amount of time undergoing treatment and recovering, but he has already said he plans to be back as soon as possible. In 2022, he pitched 57.2 innings, allowed 44 hits, 18 earned runs, 16 walks, and struck out 85 batters. His ERA was 2.81, his FIP was 2.68, his WHIP was 1.04, and his ERA+ was 142. Obviously his health comes first, but I look forward to seeing him come back at some point this season.

These are all guys that you should want on your fantasy baseball teams. With the honorable mentions out of the way, let’s look at the top 10 fantasy baseball relievers you should target for your team in 2023.

Fantasy baseball relievers #10: Jhoan Duran

Jhoan Duran was originally in the just missed section, but with Edwin Diaz’s injury, he slides on at #10. He pitched 67.2 innings and allowed 50 hits, 14 earned runs, 16 walks, and struck out 89 batters, good for a K/BB of 5.56. His ERA was 1.86, his FIP was 2.52, his WHIP was 0.98, and his ERA+ was 208. The only problem is that he will likely not be the full-time closer, since the Twins usually don’t anoint one. He will likely split save opportunities with Jorge Lopez, but he can still be really valuable as a fantasy baseball reliever because he will get holds as well as some saves.

Fantasy baseball relievers #9: Andres Munoz

Andres Munoz had a breakout season in 2022. He pitched 65 innings and allowed just 43 hits, 18 earned runs, 15 walks, and struck out 96 batters. His ERA was 2.49, his FIP was 2.04, his WHIP was 0.89, and his ERA+ was 149. Like some of the honorable mentions, the Mariners won’t name a closer. They tailor their reliever usage to the situation, which makes so much sense in real life, but doesn’t really help in terms of fantasy value. I chose Munoz as #10 because he is already one of the most dominant relievers in the game at 23 years old, with 13.3 K/9 and only 2.1 BB/9, good for a K/BB ratio of 6.4.

Fantasy baseball relievers #8: Clay Holmes

After a rough start to his career in Pittsburgh, Clay Holmes has come to life since being traded to the Yankees. In 2022, the righty tossed 63.2 innings and allowed just 45 hits, 18 earned runs, 20 walks, and struck out 65 batters. His ERA was 2.54, his FIP was 2.84, his WHIP was 1.02, and his ERA+ was 154. The one concern for him is that he doesn’t strike out as many batters as most of the other relievers on this list, but he is reliable and should get plenty of save opportunities on a Yankees team that will be very competitive.

Fantasy baseball relievers #7: Felix Bautista

Felix Bautista had an incredible rookie season in 2022. He pitched 65.2 innings and allowed just 38 hits, 16 earned runs, 23 walks, and struck out 88 batters. His ERA was 2.19, his FIP was 2.91, his WHIP was 0.93, and his ERA+ 183. Jorge Lopez started the year as the closer, but once he got traded to the Twins, Bautista took over and locked it down. There’s nobody in his way in 2023, so expect him to get the lion’s share of save opportunities for this Baltimore team that is on the rise.

Fantasy baseball relievers #6: Jordan Romano

Jordan Romano has pitched three consecutive seasons with an ERA below 2.15 and an ERA+ above 185. Read that again, because that’s crazy. In 2022, he pitched 64 innings and allowed 44 hits, 15 earned runs, 21 walks, and struck out 73 batters. His ERA was 2.11, his FIP was 2.82, his WHIP was 1.02, and his ERA+ was 185. He doesn’t get as many strikeouts as most of the other closers on this list, but he is still extremely impactful and he should get plenty of save opportunities for the Blue Jays this season.

Fantasy baseball relievers #5: Ryan Helsley

We’ve seen the potential from Ryan Helsley for a few years now and, in 2022, he finally took the Cardinals’ closer role from Giovanny Gallegos. He pitched 64.2 innings and allowed just 28 hits, nine earned runs, 20 walks, and struck out 94 batters. His ERA was 1.25, his FIP was 2.34, his WHIP was 0.74, and his ERA+ was 306. His fastball has become one of the most dominant pitches in the game, averaging triple digits and topping out at 104. The closer role should be his from the start, so expect more saves this year.

Fantasy baseball relievers #4: Raisel Iglesias

Raisel Iglesias has been one of the most consistent closers in the Big Leagues for the better part of a decade now. 2022 was no different, as he pitched 62 innings and allowed 46 hits, 17 earned runs, 14 walks, and struck out 78 batters. His ERA was 2.47, his FIP was 2.47, his WHIP was 0.97, and his ERA+ was 165. He secured less saves than usual, partially because the Angels didn’t give him many opportunities in the first half, and partially because the Braves had Kenley Jansen as their primary closer once he got traded to Atlanta. However, Iglesias should be the full-time closer in 2023 once he returns from injury.

Fantasy baseball relievers #3: Devin Williams

Devin Williams took over the Brewers’ closer role once Josh Hader got traded to the Padres, and he was fantastic. He pitched 60.2 innings and allowed just 31 hits, 13 earned runs, 30 walks, and struck out 96 batters. His ERA was 1.93, his FIP was 2.01, his WHIP was 1.01, and his ERA+ was 205. He’s been an elite setup guy for a couple of years, but now he’s ready to take the closer’s role full-time, so expect more saves.